I’m very much guilty of identifying as “not a math person” or, as written in September, an “English major who can’t help his sons with their math homework once they reach middle school.”

The governor has a very good executive staff. But there’s no substitute for a present governor. Legislators are generally a needy bunch. They see him on national TV during session and wonder why he isn’t attending to them. That’s simple Statehouse reality and has been forever.

Column: When power outages occur, Batavia Electric crews work as quickly and safely as possible to restore service, writes Lori Botterman of the City of Batavia.

Sunday marked the 249th anniversary of the establishment of the official American flag, which was created by an act of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777.

Column: School’s out and there’s fun to be had at STC Underground with several new programs and returning favorites. Programs are geared to 11- to 19-year-olds, writes Patricia MacMillan for the St. Charles Park District.

Column: Like so many of us, I struggle with motivation to improve my physical self, writes Joan Budilovsky.

Column: A new partnership between the St. Charles Park District and Geneva-based The Garden Plate is ticking all the boxes with its new series at Primrose Farm this summer, writes Patricia MacMillan.

That said … real fixes aren’t possible without extra money, either, otherwise the problems probably wouldn’t persist. And so it’s back to the beginning: absent additional spending, no improvements will be sufficient.

Lawmakers should not overlook a proven tool that has quietly delivered results for more than two decades: the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit.

Column: The St. Charles Park District is ready to open a new disc golf course, and a well-loved golf course has a new short-game opportunity as part of its commitment to recreation opportunities for all ages, writes Melissa Rubalcaba Riske for the park district.

To the extent these bills placate either of the competing interests at this juncture – or even after all the audits are released and scrutinized – everything is subject to change if or when Congress changes the tools in the box.

My inbox was full of releases from groups that typically lean left but had plenty to say about the General Assembly’s funding commitments for certain priorities.

It’s the saga that won’t die.

The people who know all too well what consequences this lack of attention has effectuated don’t have the luxury of turning to different challenges.

Column: When I think of Geneva, I think of Swedish Days, writes Elisa Reamer of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.

This week marks the 60th anniversary of Miranda vs. Arizona, a landmark Supreme Court case that established the famous words that must be read before criminal interrogations.

I’ve spent an awful lot of time trying to figure out how to make that all fit into eight semesters for my own kids and suspect I might not be alone.

You can drop in any other policy area (property tax reform, transportation infrastructure, prescription drug access, etc.) and the question is equally applicable: Do voters want somebody with a plan or someone who is merely opposed to the status quo?